Storage battery terminal



April 1944. 1.. R. BECKMAN 2,347,168

STORAGE BATTERY TERMINAL Filed May 24, 1943 Patented Apr. 25,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STORAGE BATTERY TERMINAL Lawrence R. Beckman, Erhard, Minn.

Application May 24, 1943, Serial No. 488,222

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a storage battery terminal, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be effectively applied and conveniently removed without requiring the use of a wrench or other tool.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a battery terminal embodying a split post-engaging member, together with means for restricting said member for tight clamping engagement around a post and wherein means are also provided for separating the extremities of the split member to facilitate its application upon or removal from a post.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a terminal of this kind including a split member for engagement around a post of a battery and wherein the extremities of the member are provided with jaws carrying a swinging element having cam faces for coaction with the jaws to tightly clamp the split member upon a post when the swinging element is rocked in one direction and wherein said swinging element is provided with a part to engage between the jaws to expand the split member, when desired, to facilitate the placing of the split member upon or its removal from a post of a battery.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved storage battery terminal whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a storage battery terminal constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, with the lever in raised position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken vertically through Figure 1, a second position of the lever being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and partly in plan illustrating the mounting of the lever as herein comprised.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing," the battery terminal comprises a conventional longitudinally split tubular member I with which is engaged an extremity of a conductor cable C. Integrally formed with one end portion of this member or sleeve I is a substantially cylindrical split member or head 2 having its free extremities continued by the outstanding and substantially heavy lugs 3. These parts I, 2 and 3 are preferably made of steel although it is believed to be readily apparent that any other material may be used as may be preferred.

The inherent resiliency of the member or head I is such as to have its free extremities normally expanded to such an extent to permit the member or head i to be readily placed upon a post of a battery and also to such an extent to allow the member or head I to be placed upon posts of different sizes within, of course, certain limitations, so that the member or head i can be placed with equal facility upon either the positive or negative post of a battery. This is of advantage as it frequently occurs that the negative and positive posts of a battery are of different radii.

The lugs 3 are provided with the relatively large and aligned openings 4 through which is freely insertible a bolt 5 which is also freely disposed through the opening 6 provided in the inwardly or downwardly disposed ears I carried by and spaced transversely oi. an elongated swinging member or lever L. The cars I straddle the lugs 3 of the head or member I and the inner or opposed faces of these ears I and the adjacent portions of the lever L are provided with the inwardly disposed rigid cam plates 8 which, as the lever L is swung inwardly with respect to the sleeve I, contact with the outer faces of the extremities of the head or member 2 and contract the head or member 2 sufllciently to tightly clamp around a post of the battery in a manner whereby the terminal is held absolutely tight on the battery post, thus substantially eliminating the liability of any loose connection.

The end portion of the lever L provided with the ears I is relatively broad and said end portion of the lever L at substantially the transverse center thereof has threading therethrough a screw element 9 which, upon being rotated in one direction, engages between the lugs 3 and thereby expands the member or head 2 to an extent sufficient to facilitate the application of the member or head 2 upon or its removal from a battery post.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a storage battery terminal constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed is:

A battery terminal comprising a split member 2 memos to be engaged around the post of I. bottom a earstor contact with the extremlties of the memlever having transversely sawed ears between her upon swinglng ot the lever in one direction which the extremities of the members are disfar contrac ing the member. and an element posed, means coacting with the extremities of the threading through the lever and having a, tapered member and the ears of the lever for mounting 5 p ti n to 8 86 w en the e tremities 01' the the lever upon the member for swinging movemember N- 8 the member.

ment, means carried by the opposed races or the LAWRENCE R. BECKMAN. 

